Best engine ? For Mh

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David M said:
30 mph in fifth with all that weight is impressive - but is it a good thing?
It does rather suggest that at 70 you’d be running in too low a gear.
I now have a 9-speed auto box and find that at a steady 55 on the motorway, it’s in 7th - the next two gears coming in only at higher speeds. I don’t really mind how many changes the box has to make (I can hardly detect them, anyway), but I do appreciate the much improved mpg: 2.1 litre (Merc)) auto in 4.4-tonne van gives me 29-ish mpg. The previous 2.7 litre (Merc) manual in 3.5 tonne van gave 24.
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it's a 6 speed manual box, and I'm usually up into 6th around 40mph at 1500-ish rpm, quite capable of cruising along at 70 should I so wish. Give me 29-30 mpg solo on a run, down to 26 towing car on trailer. 3.0 ltr Fiat, 4090kg Hymer A-class. I just like the bigger capacity lazy running diesels.
The first line of your reply does rather demonstrate my point thought, larger engine with a wide power band, quite happy to pull along at low revs as opposed to a smaller engine needing more gears to achive a decent amount of power from the narrow power band and maximum torque not being available until much higher in the rev range.
 
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I'm not a fan of the new Fiat engines apart from the 180 with the auto box, any of them with a manual box couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding - the torque is poor across the range.

Torque, it's all about it's ability to pull.

VAG now use Ford engines - Ford now use VAG's gearbox. VAG right up to their 2.0 178ps with 420 Nm of torque.

FWD Mercs use a Renault derivative.

For me I'd opt for the Fiat 180 auto (450Nm) or the Ford 130 (385Nm), 165 (400Nm) or the 178 (420Nm)

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treblid said:
Do you consider MPG? I wouldn't like the idea of the cost of driving to Spain or Croatia with one of those engines...
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Doesn't really matter compared to what you pay for a Motorhome, no point in worring about mpg.
Bill-H said:
is it eight or nine? Give me a a bigger cc lazy slow running engine with it's wide power band for way fewer gear changes and torque from 800rpm
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Not a problem when you have a 9 speed auto box, quite happy with the way my 2.2 performs.
 
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Lenny HB said:
Doesn't really matter compared to what you pay for a Motorhome, no point in worring about mpg.

Not a problem when you have a 9 speed auto box, quite happy with the way my 2.2 performs.
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I understand 8 or 9 gears for an auto is not a problem, but they need all those gears because the power band is narrowed as the BHP goes up. You'd start to stuggle with a 6 speed manual and a high HP small capacity engine as the rev range where enough torque is produced gets smaller and smaller the more that horsepower is increased.
 
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Bill-H said:
I understand 8 or 9 gears for an auto is not a problem, but they need all those gears because the power band is narrowed as the BHP goes up. You'd start to stuggle with a 6 speed manual and a high HP small capacity engine as the rev range where enough torque is produced gets smaller and smaller the more that horsepower is increased.
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I am happy enough with my five speed box on my Ford Duratorq 2.2 litre typically pulling about 3,050 kg. I would hate the prospect of just 5 gears on a modern Ducato engine. Not so much Italian Stallion as EU Eunuch!

From memory I am pulling circa 2650 rpm in 5th at a true 70mph and if someone is really getting up my nose I can surprise them with a clean get-away in the traffic lights grand prix!

No way would I consider a new Ducato with a manual box - Ford just maybe.

By way of aside long term an auto box should hold its value better. A new generation of drivers have learned on an automatic and an even younger generation will learn on EVs with no gears!! I presume but do not know that the latter will qualify for an auto licence only?
 
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treblid said:
Do you consider MPG? I wouldn't like the idea of the cost of driving to Spain or Croatia with one of those engines...
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Given that whatever you choose has to use some fuel then given the relatively low mileage of Mhs the difference in fuel between them is unlikely to be your biggest expense. One Comfortmatic failure is going to buy a few years worth of fuel
 
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PlacidoD said:
I am happy enough with my five speed box on my Ford Duratorq 2.2 litre typically pulling about 3,050 kg. I would hate the prospect of just 5 gears on a modern Ducato engine. Not so much Italian Stallion as EU Eunuch!

From memory I am pulling circa 2650 rpm in 5th at a true 70mph and if someone is really getting up my nose I can surprise them with a clean get-away in the traffic lights grand prix!

No way would I consider a new Ducato with a manual box - Ford just maybe.

By way of aside long term an auto box should hold its value better. A new generation of drivers have learned on an automatic and an even younger generation will learn on EVs with no gears!! I presume but do not know that the latter will qualify for an auto licence only?
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Would you consider a new Ford with a wet belt though? I certainly wouldnt.

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jongood said:
Would you consider a new Ford with a wet belt though? I certainly wouldnt.
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I would but I would be very wary. Currently Ford based MoHos to a similar spec seem cheaper than Ducato (even if only via price reduction especially if taking account of add-ons like an auto box). Both chassis produce problems. I would feel more in control with a Ford by sticking rigidly to an annual service and change the belt at 5 years irrespective of mileage. However I would not consider a "young" used Ford. I would want the warranty protection regarding injectors.

In contrast some Ducato problems seem to have owners off the road for months because of absent parts.

But mainly I prefer the more car like handling and suspension of a Ford Transit base.

However the probability is that I would buy new based upon layout and desirability of features rather than chassis. The reality is that there is little wrong with what I have got especially when considering my limited ability to use the van and so, although a new toy would be lovely, it is low on my list of priorities!
 
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Bill-H said:
I understand 8 or 9 gears for an auto is not a problem, but they need all those gears because the power band is narrowed as the BHP goes up. You'd start to stuggle with a 6 speed manual and a high HP small capacity engine as the rev range where enough torque is produced gets smaller and smaller the more that horsepower is increased.
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I've not driven a manual Motorhome since our first on which went 11 years ago. It was a Fiat 2.3 130hp, fine on normal roads but a pain on mountain hairpins, as you say torque too narrow and the early 130's didn't have the variable vane turbo. Let the revs drop below 1800 and it almost stalled on steep hills.

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Carpmart said:
3.0 Iveco unit runs standard at 205bhp+ and for a small displacement engine, they are pretty torquey too! ✔️
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I think it’s only the later Iveco twin turbo that produces these Bhp figures the early 3.0 is only rated at 170-180 Bhp massive difference 👍
 
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Bailey 15 said:
Not a Ford if your looking between 2019-2023
To many repeated injector issues costing £1900
Also Wet Belt replacement every 6yr @ £1500 🙄🤔
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Yes that is what I mean by a "young" used Ford. Too much of a lottery as to whether you get hit with injector problems repairable at your own expense!!
 
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Steve and Denise said:
I think it’s only the later Iveco twin turbo that produces these Bhp figures the early 3.0 is only rated at 170-180 Bhp massive difference 👍
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Yes I was quoting the current engine! 👍🏻

Earlier engine, in top output is 178bhp but easy and reliable to run earlier motor at more with an inexpensive remap. ✔️
 
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I'm actually having a bit of trepidation about this new Merc I've bought, I'm definitely not an automatic gearbox fan in anything so I'm hoping it all goes OK, if not it'll be going back within the 14 days of purchase! Lol
 
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CaptainPaul said:
I'm actually having a bit of trepidation about this new Merc I've bought, I'm definitely not an automatic gearbox fan in anything so I'm hoping it all goes OK, if not it'll be going back within the 14 days of purchase! Lol
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You will be quite impressed with the new generation of automatic gearboxes, nothing like they used to be 👍
 
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Just smiffy said:
The best engine is the one that gets you there safely and at a reasonable cost, without breaking down…😎
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That would be a Cummins then ?


mind you wouldn't leave much payload if you fitted one into a Ducato !
:)

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The 3.0 Iveco derived engine, is, in my opinion, the best engine ever to grace a Motorhome. Mainly because it has a cam chain and so additional reliability over engines from the same period which had belts (although if well maintained, belted engines can be just as good, just not as powerful).

I was talking to an old, now retired, diesel mechanic just last week on this (albeit Diesel engines in general, not just Motorhome related). Older N/A diesels used to go on for years and years (old tractors etc), due to their simplicity, you could throw them in a river, then drag them out and start them (within reason). Unfortunately emissions regulations and restrictions placed on manufacturers meant that they had to introduce EGR's, DPF's, Ad-Blu and a huge array of sensors and ECU control - Which as he said would be like cutting your food intake in half, with the other half now being made up of eating your own poop :LOL:.
 
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enark said:
2.2 is the smoothest
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Which one? There have been three in recent years. All very different from each other.

The 2.2 Puma engine - but that will only be euro 4 or euro 5.
The 2179cc Peugeot/Citroen engine?
The 2184cc ex Jeep engine?
 
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Tigger-Tim said:
Which one? There have been three in recent years. All very different from each other.

The 2.2 Puma engine - but that will only be euro 4 or euro 5.
The 2179cc Peugeot/Citroen engine?
The 2184cc ex Jeep engine?
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The latest, also used by Jeep.
 
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funflair said:
I can’t agree really as a small displacement engine can make the same power as one 3 times the size but it wouldn’t be nice in a Motorhome as it would be low on torque and would need to be revving all the time.
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Not if turbocharged. Turbocharged engines (which most modern diesels are) produce far more torque than non turbos.
 
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EuroTrotters said:
Is that factoring in the lower cost of LPG ?
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I honestly never properly calculate it.

Thousands tied up in an RV and worrying about MPG would be a bit daft to us :LOL:

I fill up with LPG and reset the mileage. When we reach 300-350 miles we look for a refill. Usually use Flogas depot Peterborough.

Someone else paid for the LPG conversion and unless I was buying another MH / RV to keep 10 years I probably wouldn't convert one at today's fuel prices. We also can't consider Europe at the moment and obviously LPG far more available over there.
 
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